Nick Montaperto

Ms. Hofmann
English 1102-057
Marrh 8, 2014
Hello my name is Nick, and I have Vitiligo. Now I bet that you have no idea what I am
talking about and probably read that funny looking word twice. Vitiligo is a rare disease
that causes the skin to look almost bleached in blotchy patters. Let me give you some in-
depth information: We all know that our skin is made up of skin cells, but a specific skin
cell known as a Melanocyte gives us the color of our skin. These Melanocytes produce
something called Melanin; Melanin is the specific product that gives the skin its
characteristic color. Vitiligo is caused by the loss of pigment in the skin. Basically this
means, the Melanocytes that produce pigment (Melanin) are killed off by the body for
some reason. No one has yet been able to figure out why the Melanocytes are destroyed.
A popular theory is the body's immune system destroys the cells. But, it could also be a
genetic disease or caused by massive amounts of stress (not likely).

The psychosocial effects of Vitiligo are often unconsidered in the world today. Most of
you have probably seen Vitiligo but did not recognize it by its name. People with Vitiligo
often have white patchy spots of skin; it is easier to notice in darker skin tones.
Everyones skin tone comes from a Melanocyte. This Melanocyte is a skin cell that
produces the actual pigment, called Melanin. Vitiligo is caused when the Melanocyte
dyes off; either from the body killing it or from genetics. No one has yet been able to
figure out why the Melanocytes are destroyed. A popular theory is the body's immune
system destroys the cells. But, it could also be a genetic disease or caused by massive
amounts of stress (not likely).


Before we get into the bulk of this paper, I am willing to bet that you may not know what
Vitiligo is. You have most likely seen someone with Vitiligo over the course of your life,
but you probably didnt recognize it. Vitiligo is a rare disease that causes the skin to look
almost bleached in blotchy patters. Let me give you some in-depth information: We all
know that our skin is made up of skin cells, but a specific skin cell known as a
Melanocyte gives us the color of our skin. These Melanocytes produce something called
Melanin; Melanin is the specific product that gives the skin its characteristic color.
Vitiligo is caused by the loss of pigment in the skin. Basically this means, the
Melanocytes that produce pigment (Melanin) are killed off by the body for some reason.
No one has yet been able to figure out why the Melanocytes are destroyed. A popular
theory is the body's immune system destroys the cells. But, it could also be a genetic
disease or caused by massive amounts of stress (not likely).